Wagon-brake.



Patented Aug. 8, I899. Z. HAWKINS.

WAGON BRAKE.

[Application filed Dec.

'No Mod l.)

iii

hauczZO/ fifl 555 17/01 Mei 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ZACHARIAH HAWKINS, OF GREERSVILLE, OI-IIO.

WAGON-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 630,692, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed December 7, 1898. Serial No. 698,577. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ZAOHARIAH HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Greersville, in the county of Knox and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wagon-brakes, and more particularly to that class known as lever-brakes.

The object of the invention is to provide a brake adapted to be operated by a single lever, which is so constructed as to afiord means whereby a pawl is thrown into and out of engagement with a ratchet, thus locking and unlocking the lever and retaining the brakeshoes upon the wheels without requiring the attention of the operator to the lock mechanism;

With these objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear my invention consists in the particular construction of the various parts and in the novel manner of combination or arrangement of said parts, all of which will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved brake with the lever in the locked position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the lever in an unlocked position.

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the lock mechanism.

In the annexed drawings, B represents a frame which is substantially V-shaped, with a segmental plate 0 at its top connected to the free ends of the frame and provided with a series of ratchet-teethD upon its lower edge. To the base of the frame is pivotally secured the compound lever E, the lower section of which is provided with an enlarged portion F, which forms on each side a right-angular beveled shoulder Gin connection with the tongue H, which is provided with a curved end I, the object of which will be hereinafter explained.

The uppersection of the lever is provided with a slot J, adapted to straddle the segmental plate 0 and to engage the tongue H, which is pivotally secured therein by a bolt or rivet K. The ends of the slotted portion being beveled, as shown at L, are adapted to engage the shoulders G. Thus when the lever is thrown forward it forms a rigid joint.

Pivotally secured in the slot J just above the tongue H by a bolt or rivetM is a pawl N, adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth upon the segmental plate and to be held in engagement therewith by the lock-rod O, which is secured to the other end thereof.

The mode of operation is as follows: When the lever is thrown forward, the lock-rod exerting a pull on the lower end of the pawl causes the upper end to engage the ratchet, thus applyingthe brake and locking the lever. Simply a reverse motion made with the lever causes the pawl to be thrown out of engagement with the ratchet by the tongue which engages the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a wagon-brake, the combination, with a frame having a segmental plate provided with ratchet-teeth upon its lower edge, of a compound lever pivoted to the base of the said frame, the lower section of the said leverhaving beveled shoulders and a tongue, the upper section provided with a slot adapted to straddle the said segmental plate and engage the tongue which is pivoted therein, the ends of the slotted portion being beveled and adapted to engage the shoulders on the lower section, of a pawl pivoted in the said slot and a lock-rod pivotally secured to the said pawl, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

ZAOHARIAH HAWKINS. Witnesses:

0. L. MILLER, E. C. GREER. 

